Abstract
Seventy-two bass (Micropterus-spp.), mostly smallmouth, were collected from three areas of the Caddo River in west Arkansas and examined for the presence of Clinostomum marginatum metacercariae. Prevalence, mean abundance, and abundance for all fish were 68%, and 4.2 ±6.5, and 30, respectively. Fish from the upstream area near the headwaters were more heavily infested than those from further downstream. A gill/total body larval ratio of seven, was found for bass from another Arkansas stream, was examined as a predictor for total Clinostomum populations instream bass. Using the formula gill parasites X seven divided by N(72), a value of 3.3 was found for mean abundance. The gill/total body ratio for Caddo bass was found to be higher at 8.9 but the ratio of 7 gives a reasonable estimate of Clinostomum burdens in a stream bass population. Use of this ratio allows bass hosts to be examined without necropsy thus preserving the host population in its environment.
Recommended Citation
Daly, James J. Jr.; Matthews, H. Michael; Keller, Randal J.; and Daly, James J.
(1999)
"Clinostomum marginatum (Yellow Grub) Metacercaris in Black Bass From the Caddo River in West Arkansas,"
Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science: Vol. 53, Article 8.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol53/iss1/8
